The Cleveland Police Museum is honored to tell the stories of our Fallen Officers on the anniversary of their End of Watch.
Tom S. Hakaim was appointed to the Cleveland Police Department on September 16, 1957. After completing the Police Academy, he served in the Second, Third and Fifth Police Districts, the Detective Bureau and the Communication Section.
On April 3rd, 1971, Patrolman Hakaim was assigned to the police radio room at 2001 Payne Avenue. Patrolman Thomas McLaughlin, also assigned to the radio room, apparently went berserk and began firing his service revolver at Patrolman Hakaim and Sergeant Friedland.
After felling both officers, McLaughlin picked up Friedland’s service revolver and continued to fire at the two downed officers and at random around the radio room. McLaughlin then walked into the Lieutenant’s office armed with Friedland’s weapon and his own empty weapon in his pocket. Lieutenant Stuber and Sergeant Forest Parkey disarmed and arrested him.
Hakaim was pronounced dead at St. Vincent Charity Hospital at 2:20 p.m. Sergeant Friedland sustained five gunshot wounds but survived. McLaughlin was indicted for murder but found to be insane at the time of his crime. He subsequently spent several months in an institution.
Officer Hakaim was survived by his wife Carol, children Tom, Cheryl, Mary and Matthew, his parents, two brothers and a sister. Services were held at St. Elias Church and he was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery.
